Credit system.



J. 0. GREENWALD.

CREDIT SYSTEM.

APPLIGATIO'N rum) 8EPT.21, 1905.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. 0. GREENWALD.

CREDIT SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1905.

Patented Nov. 9,1909

2 SKEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB OSCAR GREENWALD, E MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

CREDIT SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 21, 1905. Serial No. 279,391.

and comprises mechanism whereby a mark of authorization may be produced from a distance upon checks for credit accounts.

Heretofore in large department stores and similar establishments where open accounts are held with customers it has been usual to require the customer to wait until. this check has been forwarded by pneumatic tube carriers or other means to the proper authority to receive the authorization stamp and thenreturned before his purchase will be delivered to him.

Itis the object of the present invention to avoid this annoying delay and secure immediate authorization for the credit check. This is accomplished by providing telephones and electrical check punching or im-- printing devices at the various sub-stations or sections of the establishment which are 1n connection with a central station where the credit man or the authority for extendinq credit is located with his records.

when goods are ordered to be charged on account, the clerk or attendant at the station places the check in the check punching device and telephones to the credit man the name and address of the customer, the amount of the purchase and like information, the credit man looks through his card indexes or other records to determine whether the customer is entitledto credit and finding that to be the case closes a switch,-as by pressin a push button, {and thereby produces the operation of are check punching device at the sub-station to punch or imprint the authorizationstamp upon the check, all .of which is accomplished in a very short time.

Another object of this invention is to perfect details of construction of such credit system apparatus so as to render. the punchmg devices reliable in their operation and in-- capable of being actuated except by the proper authority. I

lrVith the above and other objects inview the invention consists in the mechanism and system herein set forth, their parts and combinations of parts, and all equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts in the several views Figure 1 is a diagram of a credit check punching system as comprehended by this invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation of one of the check punching devices; Fig. 3 is an elevation thereof; Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the punch member; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the die strip; and, Fig. 7 indicates av fragment of a. credit check with the author-i zation stamp thereon.

In these drawings the check punching device comprises an electric solenoid l0 supported in a vertical position by being mounted at its upper end on a plate 11, which is connected by a number of upright posts or bolts 12 with a top plate 13 adapted to rest upon the upper surface of a desk or counter with the solenoid passing down through an opening. The solenoid core tube 14: is extended beneath the solenoid and has a solid bottom 15 upon which the inclosed core 16 normally stands. An insulating block 17 is mounted at the side of the solenoid by being secured to the plate 11, and a pair of binding posts 18 thereon receive the terminals of the solenoid winding.

' A U-shaped cleat or punch rest 19 is secured to the under side of the top plate 13, and punch member 20 normally rests thereon with its depending reduced stem 21 paying through an opening in the punch rel: and entering the upper end of the core tube of the solenoid. Here the stem is enlarged to form a shoulder against which its surrounding coil spring 22 presses at one end while at the other end it bears against the under side of the punch rest so as to normally hold the punch member down upon the punch rest. The enlarged lower end of the punch stem 21 is in the path of the solenoid core, so that when the core is lifted by the solenoid it will strike the stem a hammer blow and drive the punch member upwardly with force. The upper face of the punch member 20 is provided with a number of punch pins 23 which are preferably arranged to form the letters 0 K, as

shown in Fig. 5, and these punch pins ride through similarly arranged perforations in the top plate 13 and are adapted toenter other similarly arranged perforations 24 in Patented Nov. El, 1909.

a die strip which is secured et one end on the top plate. The other end of the die strip is free ,and turned upwardly toform a guide for a paper'check 26 wh ch may be entered between the die strip'and the surface of the top plate 13. Abracing strip. 27 is mounted upon the die strip 25 and arches over the perforated portion-thereof to brace it against being bent upwardly in any way.-

mal y stand in the perforations of the top late'are forced upwardly through the openings 24 of thedie stri-p,-th'ereby perforating the paper check 26 placed beneath said die stri with the'letters OK, as shown in Fig. 7. i vhen the solenoid is deenergized its core 16 drops upon the solid bottom 15 ofthe solenoid tube, the upper end of which tube is turned over upon the plate 11 to securely hold it in place against the blow received in this manner. In 'order that the paper check may beperforated at the proper place flanged guides 29 are arranged on the; top plate 13 against which the edges of the check are brought to bear. The. core tube 14 of the solenoid is preferably perforated at its lower end in order that the core may not be retarded in its movements by forming air cushions, though-it may be sufiiciently loose .in the core tube to allow the air to freely pass. These check punching devices may be electrically connected in any desired manner with the central station and may be intimately associated with the telephone system from each of the sub-stations to thecentral station or they may be entirely indendent thereof. 'It is desirable, however, 1 that the 0 erationat the central station may be'simpli ed as much as possible by combin- 'ing the telephone system withlthe unch 0 rating system such a manner t at. as e credit man -at'the central station inakes the necessary telephone connection with the sub-station which has signaled him, such connection will establish the connection for the punch operating system of that sub,-

station, and when the circuit closing means for'the'punch operating system is closed the punch operat'ingdevice of that one sub-' station only will'be operated. I have therefore indicated in the diagram of Fig. 1'

such a combinationiof the telephone system and'the unch operating system in refer- 'ence to ustratin the separate. an inde- ..pendent systems, t ough it is to be under-.

stood that I do not desire torestrict myself to the articular system here shown, but re-- serve e right to modify thiss'ystem however it may be desirable, or to suhstitutethe independent telephone and systems referred to. f y

In the diagram shown in Fi .1, there is represented a centralstation in conne punch operating tionwithfour different sub-stations num viously the number of Sllb-StZItIOHS may be bered 1, 2, 3 and 4-respectively, though ob- I increased indefinitely. The-a paratus at" the central station is represente 'as mounted on a sw1tch board and includes an ordinary telephone, transmitter 30- and receiver phone. circuit 32 shown by. e lines.

Theapparatus at each of the sub-stations '31 which are connected-t ether in a telecomprises a set of tele hone instruments A,- .a magnetic check punc ing device B and a relay 0 for o erating the latter, and each of these is fmar edwiththe numeralbf the phone sets of the several -su stations are from the common te to the switch board of the central station by sub-station to which it-belon Thetele 3 connected. in multiple, each line leading.

ephone circuit wire-32, which contains abattery 33,- and returning v way of separate station wires 34, 35', 36 and 37 respectively. Here they connect .with." switch arms 38, 39, -4( and 41', respectively which constitute two-pointgswitches nor- 7 from which wires 43lea through. annunciamally left upon "contact oints 42, as shown,

tors 44 to a common return wire 45 which I connects with the telephone wire 32 between the battery 33 and'the central station telephone instruments and contains a'switch 45'" operated by the receiver hook so as to open when the receiveris removed. Each of the annunciators 44 is numbered as usual to correspond wlth the number. of the sub-station with which it is connected. The telephone sets A ofthe sub-stations are of an or type in which the circuit therethrough s j opened as long'as-the receiver is hanging on.

the hook, but which is com leted for. signal; telephone circuit whenthe receiver 1s re---' Y ing'the central station an for closing the moved from the hook.

When thereceiver at any sub-station isremoved from itshook the signaling circuit completed by this operation causes'the' cor-v responding annunciator plateto dro in usual manner to indicate to the are it mas-q at the central station that communication is desired by that sub-station. Forinstance when the receiver of sub-station 3 is removed from its hook b the attendant, a circuit is completed from attery 33, through the wire 32 and the telephoneinstruments of'sub:sta-

. tion 3, by wire 36 to the two point switch 40 on-the switch board at the central station,

and through the wire 43 thereof and the an- I nunciator marked 3 through wire 45 andthe closed switch '45 to wire. 32. which returns to batte tor 3 to op, and it is then the duty of the 33.1- This circuit causes annuncia credit man to change the switch thereabove, which is switch 40, to its other contact point, 46, and thereby cut the annunciator out of circuit and substitute the telephone instrumentsof the central station, since the wire 32 after leaving the transmitter 30 connects with a wire 47 which joins all of the contact points 46 of the two point switches. Then the circuit from switch is through wires 47 and 32, the transmitter 30 and the receiver 31 to the batteny 33', instead of through the wires 43 and 45, the switch 45 and the annunciator marked Thus the signaling circuit established by the attendant at sub-station 3 is converted into a telephone circuit including the telephone instruments of sub-station 3 and the telephone instruments of the central station. When the receiver 31 is removed from its hook the switch 45 is opened to disconnect the other annunciators from the, telephone circuit so as to avoid possible interference between the telephone system and the punching system whenthe latter is operated.

The system so far as at present explained may be considered the telephone system, but the station wires 34, 35, 36 and 37 thereof are also utilized as station wires in the check punching system. The relaymagnet of relay C at each sub-station is connected to the station wire of that sub-station by means of a wire 48 and is also connected by a wire 49 with a wire 50 which connects with a battery 51 from which a wire 52 leads to a push button at the central station, adapted when pressed to connect said wire 52 with the wire 47 before referred to. It will be seen that the operation of changing the two point switch of any sub-station from its normal contact point 42 to its other contact point 46, besides establishing the telephone circuit for that sub-station, also establishes the relay circuit for-the same sub'station, subject to the operation of the push button Assuming that switch 40 has been moved into engagement with contact point 46 by the credit man, as before described, to establish telephonic communication with sub-eta tion 3, and that the information furnished him during the conversation is found by his records to warrant his approval of the credit charge, it is then his duty to press the push button 53 and thus cause the operation: of the check punchingdevice B at'sub-sta-.

tion 3, which will be done as follows. The closing of push button 53 completes a circuit from battery 51 through wire. 52 and said push buttori to wire 47, and through switch 40 which is then in engagement with contact point 46, through wire 36to wire 48 and through the magnet of the relay 0 of substation 3, and by way of the wires 49 and 50 back to the battery 51. This produces a movement of the relay armature to close its contacts in-the usual manner. which will close a punch operating circuit through the magnetic punch of sub station 3, as the punch solenoid of the punching device B of each sub-station is connected by a wire 54 in series with the contacts of the relay C of that sub-station, and all of the punch solenoids with their respective relay switches are connected in multiple between wires 55 and 56 which are the terminals of a strong electric battery 57 or other source of electric switches is closedby its magnet becoming energized it completes the punch operating circuit through the magnetic punching (iv vice of that sub-station. Thus the closing of the relay switch at station 3, as just described, will complete the punch operating circuit through the punching device B of station 3, since a circuit is complete from battery 57, through wires 56 and 54, including the closed relay switch and the solenoid of the punch, and by Way of wire 55 back to the battery 57.

The credit man at the central station having pressed the push button 53 and caused the magnetic punch Bat station 3 to perforate the characters O K in the charge check from which the information was telephoned to him, restores the switch board to its original condition by returning the receiver 31 to the hook, lifting the a-nnunci-- ator marked 3 and moving switch 40 back to its contact point 42, the attendant at station 3 having in the meantime returned the receiver of that telephone set to its hook.

The operation for all stationswill be the same as that above described and the cont, munication with the central station and the effect of the closing of the push button 53 will only be had with that station for which the two point switch has been changed from its normal position.

\Vhile relays are shown for controlling the check punching devices, it is obvious that. the check punching devices may be put in place of the relays, so that they are operated directly by the push button 53, instead of through the intervention of the relays. The

supply, so that when any one of the relay push button or circuit closer is referred to in the claims as adapted to be connected with the check punching devices with the broad meaning including the direct connection and the indirect connection with the relays. The main object in employing the relays is to reduce the resistance of the punch operating circuit by excluding the station wires therefrom to enable a strong cuirent to be used therewith. To distinguish between the several circuits the punch operating circuits are shown in heavy lines, the relay operating circuits are shown in intermediate lines and as before stated the signal and telephone circuits are shown in light lines.

It is obviously unnecessary that the check marking device should perforate the check,

for the same object may be accomplished bother means, such'as by stamping, imprinting or elnbossii'ig any desirable character on the check, and it is to be understood that wherever such terms as punching are employed in the specification or claims it is in tended to include such equivalent means.

This'case was divided and Letters Patent- No. 820,713, issued to me on May 15, 1906, constitute the division thereof.

What I claim as my invention is;

1. In a credit system, a central station and a series of sub-stations, telephones at the sub-stations connected with the central station, annunciators at the central station for the sub-stations adapted to be operated from the respective sub-stations, a telephone at the central station, switch mechanism for connecting the telephone at the central station with the telephone at any of the substations, check punching devices at the substations having connection with the central station, and a circuit closer at the central station adapted to be placed into connection with the check punching device of any substation by the operation of the switch mechanism for connecting the telephone of that sub-station with the telephone of the central station, whereby the operation of the circuit closer will produce the operation of the check punching device of that sub-station which is in telephonecommunication with the central station.

2. In a credit system, a central station and a series of sub-stations, telephones at the substations connected with the central station, annunciators at the central station for the respective sub-stations, switches at the central station for normally connecting the annunciators with respective sub-stations so as to be operated therefrom, a telephone at the central station adapted to be substituted for the annunciator of any sub-station by the change in position of the switch for that sub-station, check punching devices at the sub-stations, a circuit closer at the central station having connection with said switches and adapted to be connected with the check punching device of any sub-station when the switch for that sub-station is in position to connect the telephone of said sub-station with the telephone of the central station, whereby the operation of the circuit closer will produce the operation of the check punching device of that substation having telephone commun1- cation with the central station.

Ina credit system a central station and a series of substations, telephones at the sub-stations, station wires connecting the telephones of the respective sub-stations with the central station, annunciators at the central station for the respective substations, switches at the central station for normally connecting the annunciators with the station wires of the respective sub-stations so as to be operated from said substations, a telephone at the central station adapted to be substituted for the annunciator of any sub-station by the change in position of the switch for that sub-station, relays at the sub-stations connected with the station wires thereof, a circuit closer at the central station having connection with the said switches and adapted to be connected with the relay of any sub-station when the switch for that substation is in the position to connect the telephone thereof with the telephone of the central station, whereby the operation of the circuit closer will produce the operation of the relay of that substation which has telephone communication withthe central station, and'a check punching device at each sub-station tobeoperated by the station. a v

' In testimony whereof, I afiix iny. signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB OSCAR GREENWALD.

Witnesses:

C. DORNBAGH, C. T. BENEDICT.

operation of the relay of that sub-' 

